Key retainer



June E, 1948.

G. L. ADAIR 4 2,442,479

KEY RETAINER Filed Oct. 29, 1945 BY @lf2/,44,4

A TTORA/EY Patented June l, 1948 i] N I TE D S TA TE E EFI-CE;

KEYfnETAmER-sen Garlanall.. Adair, ,Fort Worth-Tex i Applic'atonoctober 29,1945, Serial No.` 625,403 111,01. 'zovistil Claimsp; 1 f

This'inventionrelates to key cases, and thelike,

in which a selection of keys may be placed and conveniently carried in the pocket, and itspri'vl mary` cbjectresides in 'the provisi'onof a key 're--v tainer having-a pluraltyfof compartmentsisepa-f i rated to i accommodate 'one ormore keysin each prcvidingancvelfmeans--of securing the keysl therein.

Another object of the inventionresides' in the provision of a compact arrangement of-Compart-- the return of a selected key to its: compartment by proper manipulation of the said means. Y

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision. oila key case, or retainer;` in which 'the lli. i keys l have separated.. compartments capable-'1 of readyf-and easy access and vaiiordingaI novel ari separators 5has a longitudinalslot 6 therein near v its lowerendfas'shown in dotted-lines"in-:Figuie 1,

throughfwhich-a'coupled-screw 7, Iorthe like,1is

arranged, as in Figure 2, which extends through bothof the' outer members2:

A spacerwasher-Biis arrangedaboutlthe screw 'Iififbe'tvveen'eaclrof the separators 5' toprovide compartments'I-therebetweenl'for keys -SWhich are rangementof securing` the keysfwhile in usatothe case and returning the same to its respective place in the case When not in use.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention illustrating the arrangement whereby each separator can be displaced for free access to the selected key.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention showingr the spaced separators defining key compartments therein.

Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which a key may be returned to its compartment after use.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of outer case for the invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view cf the modied form of the invention in which the outer case is connected across the bottom by a spring, and

Figure 6 illustrates, in cross-section, one form of construction for the separators and the outer casein the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The invention comprises an outer case I formed of a pair of elongated members 2 preferably wider at their upper ends a and symmetrically formed, as shown in Figure 1, and connected at their lowermost ends b by a pliable material 3, such as leather, or the like. The members 2 are preferably formed with Wire frames 4, or the like, covered with the pliable material 3, previously mentioned, as shown in Figure 6.

The outer case I embraces a plurality of sepaarranged'upbn-"a'string |20 extending through apertures* II in 'the members-'2 anc15po's'itior1ed near-the uppe1"ends'thereof;-= "Ihes'tringf I0 isi detachably secured at? one end -ctoone 'ofthe members*2gf'asillustretedlin Figure 2,"by any suitableineans,V andshas E'itsopposite'- end free althougheknottedor provided: withAl some 'device I2 for preventing,E its; being`- Withdrawn-through vthe apertrlresl1I.if` It isvdesir'able thatithe free end of- 's the string If0-be ofsufcietlength topermitfany one of-fthe keysl 'i 'to lbeiwithd-rawnf-fromv'its; compartmentgasin'` Figures 2and "3,1fand usd'rwithe" 'i out disarranging any of the other keys; -the device 1- I2 limiting its movement, as previously described.

In Figure 3 is illustrated the manner in which the invention is manipulated. A key selected for use can be removed from its compartment by slightly raising an adjacent separator 5, by reason of the slot 6 thereinJ and tilting the same outwardly at the top, as illustrated also in Figure 1, so that the selected key can be handled. By pulling the key out of its place the strin-g ID will ex out so that the key may be freely placed in a lock (not shown) While the case swings thereon, as in Figure 2. When it is desired to return the key toits place the free end of the string ID may be grasped by one hand and pulled causing the key to be returned to its respective compartment and, at the same time the displaced separator 5 will also be aligned with its companions, as shown in Figure 3.

In the modified form of the invention, shown in Figures 4 and 5, it is desirable to provide an outer case I3 which comprises a single unit of some flexible but spring-like material, such as metal or plastic, and formed substantially U-shaped, as in Figure 5, the general form of the parallel members I4 being the same as the members 2 in the structure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

It is desirable toiorm the case I3, therefore, by stamping the same from flat, relatively thin stock, and bending the same at d so that the members I4 are parallel. It is also desirable to provide laterally extending portions I 5 on each side of the structure, as illustrated in Figure 4, near the lower ends of the members I4, which are bent inwardly and at right angles to the latter to provide a kind of closure for the lower end of the case I3, as shown in Figure 5, to embrace the lower ends of the separators I6 which, in this structure, are secured to the case I3 only by the string I0 which is passed through apertures II in the upper ends of the members I4 and separators I6.

The arrangement ofthe modled structure per. mits the withdrawal from the assembly of both the selected key and the separator I6 adjacent thereto, if desired, although the iiexibility of the case I3 will permit the members I4 to be flexed outwardly to aiord access to the several compart-v ments at will. The arrangement of the string I0,

3. In a key retainer having a plurality of slightly spaced separators defining key compartments thereinbetween, the said separators having their lower ends joined for limited vertical and pivotal movement, means comprising a string arranged through each of the separators near their uppermost ends for retaining a key in each of the compartments, the said means providing for the removal of a selected key and the return thereof to its compartment.

4. In a key retainer having a plurality of spaced separators defining key compartments, means securing the lowermost ends of the separators prohowever, will enable the modified-structure to be lmanipulated in the same manner the structure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is operated, in all-V other respects, for replacing a key to its proper compartment after use. A

It is obvious that certain changes as to structure, design and material may be resorted to from time to time, by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a key retainer having a plurality of compartments, a plurality of separators having their lowermost ends -restricted to limited vertical :movement and having their upper ends free and capable of separation, a key string arranged through apertures in the upper ends of the said separators whereby to secure a key in each compartment between each separator.

2. In a key case having a plurality of key compartments defined by an arrangement of elongated separators having 1 their faces slightly spaced, means securing the lowermost ends of the separators providing for a limited vertical movement and oblique arrangement of the said separators to gain access to selected keys and exible means for collectively securing the keys in the said compartments.

-viding for limited individual vertical movement thereof and sidewise displacement of their upper ends ofeach with respect to others thereof and means comprising a-key` string arranged through each separator for retaining a key in each compartment therebetween and providing means for returning the selected key to its compartment.

5. In a new article of manufacture, a key case formed with a plurality of key compartments, an arrangement of spaced separators ldeiining the said compartments and secured at their lower ends by means providing for limited movement thereof, means for retaining a key in each compartment, the said means comprising a string arranged through each of the said separators and capable of returning the selected key to its compartrnent after use.

" GARLAND L. ADAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,797,999 Salisberg Mar. 24, 1931 `27,066,526 Gladstone Jan, 5, 1937 2,344,581 Ziegeweid Mar. 21, 1944 

